Sonarworks Reference 3 Bouncing Workaround

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By now I'm sure you all know that I'm a big fan of Sonarworks Reference 3 Speaker Calibration software. I use it on every mix, however I do have one problem with it. The problem that catches me out time and again is forgetting to "Make Inactive" the Reference 3 plug-in before bouncing a mix down. Not doing so prints the room correction, which is not ideal. Community member Andy Soemo recently posted a great Reference 3 workaround on the Trinnov vs Sonarworks article that addresses this problem.

Andy's Reference 3 Workaround In Pro Tools

Route all tracks in the session to a "MAIN BUS" Aux track. I create a Master fader for that bus so I have pre-plugin gain control. You can insert any bus processing here or on the master fader for this bus if you prefer.

On the "MAIN BUS", create a new send called "PRINT BUS" and set it to pre-fader. (You don't even need this returning anywhere within the session.)

Create another "Master Fader" that is set to your monitor outputs. Instantiate the room correction plugin on this master fader.

When you go to bounce your session, set the source of the bounce to the "PRINT BUS". Since it is a pre fader send, BEFORE the monitor path (where the room correction plugin is) you will have a full volume bounce WITHOUT the room correction applied. I found this great because I never had to remember to turn it off but I always hear it.

Andy has also provided a very useful Pro Tools template that community members are welcome to download. Thank you Andy for taking the time to explain you very useful workaround.